Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1836-1922 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more

Download & Play

Questions

Newspaper Page Text

'wvFmi'wwmwwvmpvinfwnwpiiiappp
.
THE SMUGGLERS
By Robin Winstanley.
A rustic bridge with a frail railing,
a charming youngJady resting upon
it, a creak, a splash- and Minna
Graves uttered a shriek and sank be
neath the surface of the brook.
A lithe, carelessly-dressed figure,
that of a young man coming up the
He Seemed to Be One of the Grizzled
Rough Crew.
bridge approach, a shout of interest
and alarm and as he plunged boldly
into the swirling current, 'Minna
came up choked, blinded and frantic.
"Don't struggle," spoke gentle but
resolute tones in her ear, so confidence-inspiring
that Minna obeyed
orders and came ashore dripping,
flushing at the ridiculous figure she
made. Her rescuer warded off her
expressions of fervent gratitude with
a light laugh over their mutual pre
dicament, and she grew coherent
enough to indicate that a park-like
place in the near distance was her
home.
Rolfe Ditson conducted her to its
open gateway, solicitously made sure
that she was able to get to the house
unaided, derided thejidea that he
might catch cold from his wet gar
ments and went his way after an in
vitation to call and meet her people.
Rolfe Ditson swung on his way
with brightened eye, for he worship
ped beauty and goodness. As to
Minna, she could not get that strong
intellectual face out of her mind
readily. His first call led to a sec
ond. These two were fast approach
ing a state of mutual love.
Minna saw in him a handsome,
well-bred gentleman. Her father and
mother rather liked his direct, yet
unobstrusive ways. Not so Harold
Graves. This son and brother had a
chum he had tried to thrust upon the
attentions of Minna. His sister dis
liked him intensely. When Rolfe ap
peared upon the scene the rejected
suitor scented a rival. Thencefor
ward the two chums aimed to dis
lodge and discredit Rolfe, if possible.
"I'm on a still hunt," Harold
Graves told his crony one day. "Dit
son is mighty mysterious and secre
tive. He lives at the next town hotel,
he says, but he does not appear there
more than once a week. He disap
pears regularly. I'm shadowing him,
I'll have some news soon that will
oust the fellow, trust me."
And, sure enough, one afternoon
in a great state of excitement young
Graves sought his sister in the gar
den. She was seated in a hammock,
dreaming tenderly of the absent
Rolfe. She was trustful andproud
of his attentions, and although he
had been very reserved'as to his busi
ness in the town and its vicinity, she
felt that he had some good reason for
that policy.
"I've found out!" proclaimed Har
old in a tone of exultation.
"Found out what?" inquired
Minna, ,
- - - ---- ---- ata.
tattmatmemmmmatotmemm